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Vaccinations

For a long time, having your cat vaccinated was just procedure, something that every cat owner had done without much thought. In recent years, questions have been raised about the necessity of vaccinations and how safe they really are. Most doctors and other cat experts agree that all vaccinations should not be given to all cats, and that every cat should be evaluated independently to see which vaccinations are most appropriate.

The Academy of Feline Medicine breaks vaccines down into the two categories of core and non-core. The core vaccines are recommended for almost all cats, while the non-core vaccines are only recommended for cats that have a high risk of being exposed to a particular illness or disease.

The rabies vaccine is the most common core vaccine. In addition, most veterinarians give the three-way combination vaccine, which includes Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calici, and Feline Panleukopenia. This vaccination is usually given yearly, but some vets recommend only giving it every three years. Your veterinarian should discuss non-core vaccines with you. Two vaccinations that are commonly skipped are the Feline Infectious Peritonitis vaccine and the Bordetella vaccine.